Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Bangor, MI

What it is, How it works

Hair analysis has become recognized as an effective method for identifying drug and alcohol consumption. Hair offers a prolonged history of alcohol and drug intake by capturing biomarkers within the fibers of the developing hair strand. When gathered near the scalp, hair can provide a detection range of up to around three months for alcohol and drugs. Hair is straightforward to collect, relatively resistant to tampering, and simple to transport.

A sample measuring 1.5 inches with approximately 200 hair strands (about the thickness of a #2 pencil) nearest to the scalp will yield 100mg of hair, which is the optimal sample for both screening and confirmation. For EtG, additional tests, and/or analyses beyond 10 panels, a specimen weighing 150mg is advised. It's recommended to weigh the specimen using a jeweler's scale. If scalp hair is not available, an equivalent quantity of body hair may be used. When discussing head hair, we are referring specifically to scalp hair. Body hair encompasses all other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The laboratory processing of a drug test result consists of four main stages: Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning refers to the initial step of incorporating a sample into a lab's system. This stage includes verifying that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional information entry not provided by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary check for drugs of abuse. Although Screening is a cost-effective method to exclude drug usage for most samples, a positive result must be confirmed for it to be admissible in court. Samples that are initially positive in Screening require secondary confirmation.

If a sample tests positive during the Screening phase, more hair is extracted from the initial specimen to prepare for Extraction. In this phase, drugs are removed from hair at a much lower concentration compared to other methods (e.g., urine or oral fluid), making hair drug testing a challenging methodology.

Confirmation of any positive screening result is done using methods like GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All samples showing a presumptive positive result are washed before confirmation as required. The comprehensive lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug tests identify drug use for up to 90 days, in contrast to urine tests which have a shorter detection timeframe.
• Hard to deceive: Cheating a hair drug test is exceptionally difficult, ensuring more accurate results.
• Offers historical insight: It provides a timeline of drug usage over a duration, not merely recent use.

Limitations:

• Cannot identify recent use: Drugs require about 5-7 days to become detectable in hair.
• Expense: Hair drug tests usually cost more than other drug testing methods.
• Variability in results: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth differences can impact the drug metabolite concentration in hair.

Note: Although often termed as "hair follicle tests", the test actually examines the hair strand rather than the hair follicle beneath the scalp

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Hair follicle testing surpasses urine tests in several ways in Bangor, MI. It offers superior detection accuracy and unparalleled reliability. Where urine tests might falter, hair tests capture a broader spectrum of information, making them the preferred choice for those requiring comprehensive substance detection.

Extended Detection Window

In Bangor, MI, hair follicle testing reveals drug use over an extended period, up to 90 days. This longer detection window provides employers with a well-rounded view of a candidate's or current employee's substance use history, thus aiding in making more informed decisions.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Hair follicle tests in Bangor, MI, drastically cut down the potential for sample tampering. This testing method is nearly adulteration-proof, yielding trustworthy and unassailable outcomes. By reducing manipulation risks, hair tests offer confidence in test results that other methods might miss.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

In Bangor, MI, accessing hair follicle testing is incredibly convenient due to our nationwide network of centers. This ease of access translates to hassle-free service, allowing quick and uncomplicated testing experiences. Our broad reach ensures you can find a center near you with ease.

Simple, Confidential Process

In Bangor, MI, the hair follicle testing process is both simple and private. Ordering, undergoing, and receiving results is designed for confidentiality and ease of use, ensuring that your concerns regarding privacy are addressed throughout every step.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Providing cost-effective solutions alongside fast results, our services in Bangor, MI present excellent value. Our competitive pricing makes hair follicle testing accessible for businesses of all sizes, ensuring timely results that ensure peace of mind and decision efficiency.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

In Bangor, MI, the precision and swiftness of hair follicle drug tests are remarkable. These tests provide accurate detections of any substance, ensuring reliability beyond conventional methods. Their efficiency stands out in contrast to more traditional testing approaches, offering results you can trust in a timely fashion.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Employers in Bangor, MI benefit from hair follicle testing by ensuring adherence to drug-free policies. This method mitigates legal concerns and enhances safety, providing peace of mind. By integrating hair follicle testing, companies can more easily navigate compliance while safeguarding their workplace environment.

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What's New In Hair Follicle Drug Testing according to the Hair Drug Testing Experts

With its multidisciplinary nature, hair testing brings together researchers, scientists, and experts from various domains to develop innovative techniques, explore new methodologies, and address emerging concerns, responding to the ever-evolving challenges of drug abuse, therapeutic drug monitoring, and environmental exposures to pollutants.

The joint meeting of the Society of Hair Testing (SoHT) and the Italian Group of Forensic Toxicologists (GTFI) was organized in Verona, June 8–10, 2022, and hosted by the Legal Medicine team of the Verona University Hospital, directed by Franco Tagliaro together with Federica Bortolotti and Rossella Gottardo.

It served as a prominent platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration, facilitating groundbreaking advancements in hair testing and analysis. In this special issue of Drug Testing and Analysis, we aim to showcase the remarkable manuscripts presented at this significant event, shedding light on the latest research and highlighting the future directions in this field.

Novel Analytical Techniques: The Verona meeting witnessed the unveiling of cutting-edge analytical techniques, offering enhanced sensitivity, selectivity, and accuracy for drug testing. Remarkable advancements in sample preparation, detection, and identification of drug compounds have been presented. The manuscripts in this section presented novel approaches, such as multianalyte methods and on-line preparation which can enable rapid analysis and improve thorough forensic investigations.

Biomarkers and Pharmacokinetics: The identification and validation of reliable biomarkers and pharmacokinetic studies are fundamental aspects of drug testing and analysis. The impact of hair treatments on the oxidation/decomposition of drugs in hair was also explored, as the long-term fate of drugs incorporated in the keratin matrix. Furthermore, the SoHT meeting in Verona featured research on the identification and quantification of alcohol abuse biomarkers, their stability, and their correlation with exposure and other biomarkers.

Forensic Applications and Interpretation: One of the vital objectives of hair testing is its application in forensic investigations and legal proceedings. The SoHT meeting in Verona emphasized the significance of rigorous interpretation of analytical results and the need for standardized protocols. Manuscripts in this section present advancements in forensic toxicology, and have explored the challenges posed by emerging designer drugs and strategies to combat their proliferation. The pitfalls encountered when the exogenous/endogenous nature of a substance is questioned were presented and discussed. The special issue presents also manuscripts that delve into the ethical implications of drug testing in drug facilitated sexual assaults.

Clinical Applications of hair testing are witnessed by the insight on environmental tobacco smoke exposure, assessed by hair analysis in a population of students and the study of in utero-exposure to drugs of abuse through neonatal hair analysis. Exposure to drugs was also important in cases of child abuse/neglect, when the clinical purpose of hair testing merge with its forensic applications.

The legal framework surrounding hair testing and the achievement of guidelines to ensure fairness, accuracy, and confidentiality in drug testing practices have also been discussed,and the SoHT consensus on general hair testing and testing for drugs of abuse was presented at the meeting and published as a Letter to the Editor.

In conclusion, the special issue of Drug Testing and Analysis, featuring manuscripts from the SoHT–GTFI meeting in Verona 2022, reflects the remarkable advancements achieved in this field. The manuscripts provide valuable insights into novel analytical techniques, biomarkers, pharmacokinetics, forensic applications, and ethical considerations. As we embrace these advancements, we pave the way for a safer, healthier society, where drug testing and analysis serve as powerful tools in protecting public health and maintaining integrity in various sectors. The research presented in this special issue will undoubtedly shape the future of drug testing and analysis, fostering collaboration and inspiring further innovation in this crucial area of scientific inquiry.

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